Lawrence N. Guarino

Lawrence Nicholas "Larry" Guarino (April 16, 1922 – August 18, 2014) was a United States Air Force officer, and veteran of three wars.^[1] Shot down on his 50th combat mission, he spent more than eight years as a prisoner of war (POW) during the Vietnam War and earned the Air Force Cross.

Lawrence Nicholas Guarino
Colonel Lawrence N. Guarino
Nickname(s)	Larry
Born	(1922-04-16)April 16, 1922 Newark, New Jersey
Died	August 18, 2014(2014-08-18) (aged 92) Indian Harbor Beach, Florida
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1942–1975
Rank	Colonel
Unit	31st Fighter Group 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Battles / wars	World War II Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Air Force Cross Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross (2) Bronze Star Medal (3) Purple Heart (2) Air Medal (15)

As a POW at Hỏa Lò Prison (the "Hanoi Hilton"), he shared a cell with John McCain,^{[citation needed]} the future senior United States senator from Arizona and Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election. Guarino wrote A P.O.W.'s Story: 2801 Days in Hanoi about his experiences in captivity.

Guarino flew the Supermarine Spitfire in World War II.^{[citation needed]} His last duty station was Patrick Air Force Base and he retired to Satellite Beach and Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, after leaving the Air Force. He died on August 18, 2014.^[2]

Awards and decorations

Lawrence Guarino's ribbons as they appeared at retirement:^[3]

  Command Pilot Badge

	Air Force Cross
	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
	Silver Star with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Legion of Merit
	Distinguished Flying Cross with V device and bronze oak leaf cluster
	Bronze Star Medal with V device and two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Purple Heart with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Air Medal with two silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster (second ribbon required for accouterment spacing)
	Air Force Commendation Medal
	Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
	Prisoner of War Medal
	Combat Readiness Medal
	Army Good Conduct Medal
	American Campaign Medal
	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze campaign stars
	Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with bronze campaign star
	World War II Victory Medal
	National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
	Korean War Service Medal
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Vietnam Service Medal with three silver and bronze campaign stars
	Vietnam Service Medal with bronze campaign star (second ribbon required for accouterment spacing)
	Korea Defense Service Medal
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver oak leaf cluster
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
	Armed Forces Reserve Medal
	Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross
	United Nations Service Medal for Korea
	Vietnam Campaign Medal

Air Force Cross citation

Colonel Lawrence Nicholas Guarino

U.S. Air Force

Date Of Action: May 11, 1968 – September 22, 1969

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Section 8742, Title 10, United States Code, awards the Air Force Cross to Colonel Lawrence N. Guarino for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as senior ranking officer of a North Vietnamese prison camp during the period 11 May 1968 to 22 September 1969. Following the execution of a carefully conceived escape plan by two of his officers, Colonel Guarino, who was known by the enemy to be the senior ranking officer in the camp, immediately came under maximum pressure including savage torture without parallel. Colonel Guarino exhibited exceptional heroism, courage, and determination during this period. Displaying great resilience when back in communication, he assumed command once again and slowly built the prisoner organization. Through his extraordinary heroism and maximum resistance in the face of a brutal enemy, he reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.^[4]

See also

• When Hell was in Session